The battle for power could be fought and won without shedding blood of innocent people, said noted intellectual, journalist and anchorperson Iftikhar Ahmed on Thursday. Ahmed was addressing the Question-Answer Programme organised by the students of Sindh Madressatul Islam College (SMIC) at the Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto Auditorium.
Ahmed said that the regime of General Ziaul Haq introduced gun culture and ethic and sectarian politics in the country. “As a result, our people kill each other on ethnic and sectarian bases without any fear,” he added.
He said that Karachi is the city of all ethnicities and no one could expel anyone from the metropolitan just like no one could expel citizens of Lahore on the basis that they belong to Gujranwala or Gujrat.
He also said that in Europe, enemies of the past like England, France and Germany have opened their borders for each other. “Similarly, in our country, the people of all provinces must accept and respect each other,” he added.
He emphasised the younger generation to come forward and play their due role so happiness and prosperity could return to Karachi.
He said that in the forthcoming general elections, around 300 million youngsters would be eligible to cast their votes.
“In the general elections of 2008, around 175 million voters had cast their votes in favour of the Pakistan People’s Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Awami National Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement. This time, at least 200 million young voters will bring a democratic revolution in the country,” he added.
He also said that he is not disappointed about the future of Pakistan and firmly believes that the country would be progressive and prosperous in the coming days.
Responding to a question, he said that those who want to go abroad and settle there must remember that they would be second-class citizens over there.
Citing an example from his past, he said that once in London, he saw Nawaz Sharif and Ghaus Ali Shah walking on the footpath.
He asked the participants of the programme if Sharif and Shah could ever walk like that in Pakistan. “We must own our country,” he added.
Earlier, SMIC Principal Dr Muhammad Ali Sheikh had given a detailed introduction of Ahmed, saying that he had struggled for the rights of the downtrodden class and for the restoration of democracy in the country.
Sheikh said that Ahmed had faced atrocities at the hands of tyrant regimes and spent some time in jails as well.
Sheikh also said that the objective of Ahmed’s direct interaction with the younger generation of Sindh is to read their minds and share his experiences and knowledge with them.
Sheikh thanked Ahmed for his visit to the historic institution of the SMIC and his discussion with the students.
